Double-barreled gun



J. T. THOMPSON. DOUBLE BARRELED GUN. APPLICATION FILED MAY 8. 1920.

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J. T. THOMPSON. DOUBLE BARRELED GUN APPLICATION FILED MAY 8. I920.

Patented Nov. 1, 1921 A Q Q & A A v .R W A s Nm m Q MN .mvNN' N N r w W H i A A A m W W M, HQF N AA A i A %w ,A 6. 0 W 4 n A W A w AN/ AM T A. A A g r .I P r 7 N $4 NN @QN J. T. THOMPSON. DOUBLE BARRELED GUN. APPLICATION FILED MAY 8. 1920.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN TALIAIFERBO THOMPSON, OF NEWPORT, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO AUTO-ORDNANCECORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,

A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

DOUBLE-BARRELEI) GUN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 1, 1921.

Application filed May 8, 1920. Serial No. 379,787.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN TALIAFERRO THOMPSON, citizen of the United States. of America, and resident of Newport, in the county of Campbell and State of Kentucky, have invented new and useful Improvements in Double-Barreled Guns, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in firearms and more particularly to an improved double barreled automatic shotgun.

Shotguns of the usual breech-loading types have very generally'been made with two barrels adapted to be fired selectively. One reason for this double barreled construction has been the desire to secure two shots without reloading but a more important advantage secured has been the provision of two barrels of differing interior characteristics. It'is usual to form one barrel with. a cylindrical bore and the other barrel with what is known as a choke bore. The choke bore is gradually, slightly decreased in internal diameter adjacent the muzzle and this contraction has the eifect of bunching the shot more closely, thus giving it somewhat greater carrying power and causing the shot to make a closer pattern at the longer ranges. The hunter will use the cylindrical bore when the game is within short range and the choke bore for the second shot when the game, due to flight, is more distant. A choke bore is not desirable for use in shooting game at close range since the bunching of the shot tends to cause the game to be unnecessarily mutilated and to be so filled with shot as to be unfit for eating purposes. In using a cylindrical bore for the long range work the'shot is so widely scattered that game may be in the center of the shot pattern and yet not receive sufficient shot to disable or kill it. These two types of bores each have their individual characteristics and functions and are not interchangeable for their special uses.

In so far as I am aware, automatic ,shotguns heretofore designed have been made with a single barrel. The barrel has been either cylindrical or choked or in some cases has been made with what is known as a modified choke in the endeavor to secure the advantage of both the cylindrical and choked type of barrel. While an automatic gu'n of this type permits a plurality of shots without reloadin it can not furnish the user with the di erent barrels for close and distant shooting.

Another important factor from the praccustomed to sighting along the broad top of adouble barreled gun. For all of these reasons they prefer a gun with two barrels and W111 not use the single barreled automatics which differ widely in appearance and.

feel from the guns to which they have been accustomed.

Double barreled shotguns of the ordinary types provide two shots without reloading,

but these shots in guns having one cylindri cal. and one choke barrel, are limited to one shot from each such barrel. It may often occur that conditions are such that it is not at all desirable to fire two shots in this manner, that is, the nature of the game may be such that 1t can not be closely approached in which case shots from the choke bore only will be useful. On the other hand the game may be of a character found in large flocks or coveys which may be closely approached so that more than one shot from a cylindrical bore may be desirable. While in the latter case the choke bore could be used, it would be destructive of the game as has been pointed out above.

For these reasons, conditions often arise when the usual double barreled gun is often little if any better than a single barreled gun for the particular purpose of the moment. The gun to be most desired is a gun which is provided with both the cylindrical and choke barrels and yet which will fire more than one shot from either or both barrels selectively at the will ofthe user.

It is an object of my invention to provide a new and improved automatic gun and more particularly a double barreled shotgun of a type permitting selective fire of the two barrels. It is an object to provide loading and firing means adapted to be associated with either barrel at the will of the operator; It is also an object to provide in connection with such a device, a single trigger operatively associated with the loading and firing means and adapted to fire the loaded barrel. It is another object to provide a mechanism of the character described which is light in weight, which requires but a small space, which is composed of relatively few parts and which is comparatively inexpensive'to manufacture. It is a further object to provide an automatic gun which is similar in weight, appearance and balance, to the usual non-automatic guns. Other and further objects will appear as the description proceeds.

- I haveillustrated a preferred embodiment Fig. 16

of my invention in the accompanying drawin s, in whichigure 1 is a side view of my improved Fig. 2 is a view of the gun as seen from above;

Fig. 3 is a view as seen from below;

gig. 4 is a view as seen from the muzzle en Fig. 5 is a plan view of the breech cradle;

Fig- 6 is-a side view of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a view of the forward end of Fi 6' Fig-78 is a view of the rear end of Fi 6;

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal section s owing the breech mechanism in the closed posi- 1on;

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9 but showing the breech in the open position;

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 9 but showing the. breech partly closed;

- Fig. 12 is a section on line 12-12 of on line 14-14 of a Fig 11,

ig. 13 is a section on line 1313 Fig. 9;

Fig 9-;

Fig. '10;

a section is a section on line trating the loading spoon and cartridge detent Fig. 22 is a section taken on line 22-22 of Fig. 21;

ig. 23 is a plan view of the breech closure;

Fig. 24 is a side elevation of the breech closure;

Fig. 25 is a view of the forward end of Fig. 24;

Fig. 26 is aview of the rear .end of Fig. 24;

ing the relation 0 Fig. 27 is asection on line 2727 of i ig. 32 is a section on line 32-32 of F1 33;

ig. 33 is a section on line 33-33 of Fig. 32; 7

' ig. 34 is a fragmentary section showing the cradle detents;

Fig. 35 is a section on line 3535 of Fi 34;

ig. 36 is a plan view of the sear; Fig. 37 is arperspective view of the lock member; and 1 Fig. 38 is; a fra mentary view illustratthe lock lugs and the cradle.

The-gun comprises the stock 40, housing 41, receiver 42, trigger guard 43, assembl block 44; barrels 45, and fore end 46. single magazine 47 is located midwa below the two barrels, its rear end fitting into the assembly block 44 below the rear ends of the barrels. W v I The cradle 48 shown in Figs. 5 to 8 is contained in the housing and receiver and it in turn carries the breech closure or bolt 49. The cradle'has the loading opening 50 extending through its forward end, and surrounding this 0 ening is the bearing lip 51. The rear end 0 the cradle carries the pivot lug 52 in line with the center of the bearing lip. The lip 51 fits into a similar cavity 53, inthe assembly block concentric with the magazine and the pivot lug 52 fits into a cavity 54 in the pivot support, 55 which is retained in the housing 41. Theupper portion of the cradle is provided with the ejec tion'opening 56 and the receiver 42 is provided with two e'ection openings 57 one-ad- 'acent each barrel. The bottom of the cradle 'as the loading opening 58 formed therein, this opening registerin with the opening 59 in the housin 41 The up er ortion of the cradle is breech closure 49, the lateral longitudinal ridges 60 on the bolt fitting in the similar grooves 61 in the, cradle. The rear portion .of the cradle is provided with the internal groove 64 to receive the locking lugs 65 on thelock 66, the forward portion-67 of the grooves 64 extending-obliquely downward. A portion of the width of th1s groove extends through thexcradle side to permit passage of the lug 126 on the'actuator.

The forward portion of the bolt is vertically slotted at 68 to receive the firing pin 69, the forward portion of the slot opening through the center of the forward end of the ormed to rece ve t e bolt on neeaaeo Figs. 25 and 27 the lower right hand side of the bolt carries the cam extension 71 therearward portion of which is toothed as shown at 72 of Fig. 24-. Approximately intermediate its length the upper and lateral portions of the bolt are cut away to form the oblique lock slot 73. Adjacent this slot the lower portion of the bolt is divided by the sear slot 74 shown in Figs. 23 and 28. The rear of the bolt is provided with the thrust extension 7 5, the rearface of which is formed with the thrust cup 76 adapted to receive the forward end of the thrust bar 77. The rear end of the thrust bar fits into the head 78 of the thrust plunger 79 which is surrounded by the recoil sprlng 80 as shown in Fig. 9.

The rear end of the firing pin 69 has the downwardly extending portion 81, the front of which is formed with the cam face 82, and the lower end 83 of which is adapted to coact with the sear 84. Abutting against the rear face of the member 81 and against the inner face of the rear of the bolt, is the firin spring 85.

.he sear 84 is pivoted on the cradle on the cross pin .86 and, as shown in Fig. 36, has the bifurcated spring tail 87, 88. The lower portion of the sear carries the longitudinal pivot member 89 on which is hung the connecting link 90, the lower end of the link carrying the cross pin 91. Directly attached to the trigger 92 is the trigger slide 93 carrying the upwardly extendlng fork 94 which passes through the opening 95 in the bottom of the cradle and engages the cross pin 91. i

The feed lift 96 is pivoted on the cradle at 97 and carries the actuating dog 98. The rear end of the lift is provided-with the spring 99, the upper end of which bears on the under side of the sear.

The feed spoon 100 is hinged to the forward end of the lift 96 by the spring hinge 101 which is normally in the position shown in Figs. 9 to 11.

The forward upper portion of the bolt has the groove 102 formed therein to receive the extractor 103. The ejector 104 extends inwardly from the side of the cradle as best shown in Fig. 13.

The trigger guard is carried by the removable floor plate 105 which is retained in the receiver 41 by screws. The rear portion of this plate 105 carries the safety lock 106 which has the finger piece 107. The lock is held in either the locked or unlocked position by the spring-pressed detent 108. The cartridge detent 109 is pivoted at 110 to the right side of the cradle adjacent the magazine. It is normally pressed outward by the spring 111 as shown in Fig 21. The upper portion 112 of the detent 1s beveledto' coact with the spoon 100 as shown in Fig. 10.

The ejection opening 57 in the receiver other than that covered by the bolt, is cov ered by the paddle 113 which is shown in Figs. 17 to 19. This paddle 113 is pivoted ,by the stud 114 to the receiver 42, the stud being held in place by the nut 115. The

tail of the paddle is formed with the curved slot 116 which receives the stud 117 on the upper face of the cradle.

The traversing stud 118 is screwed into the lower face of the cradle and projects out through-the transverse slot 119 in the housing 41. It is retained at either end of its travel by the spring pressed catches 120.

Each side of the receiver is provided with an actuator 121 threaded to the disk member 121' coacting with the covering slide 122 which is movable in the slot 123 in the receiver as shown in Figs. 29 to 31. The slide 122 has beveled edges and the upper edge of the slot is undercut, the lower edge of the slide being retained in place by the plate 124 which is held in place by the screws 125. The slide 122 is normally held forward by the tension spring 122. The connector lug 126 extends inward from the actuator 121 and coacts with the lugs 65 on the lock. The portion of the slot opening through the side of the receiver corresponds in shape to the slot 64 with its forward portion 67 in the radle. The actuator and disk member 12 only move through the forward oblique portion and they carry with them the slide 122 during the straight rearward motion. The portions 67 in the cradle are extended downward at 67 to permit the passage of the connector lug 126 when the cradle is moved from side to side. A similar groove 64 is provided at therear end of the travel of the actuator.

The assembly block 44 is provided with vertically extending ridges 127 co-acting with similar ridges 128 on the receiver and housing as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 33. The assembly block is restrained from vertical movement by the catch 129 pressed outward by the spring 130 and adapted to be released by the finger piece 131 as best shown in Fig. 32.

As is clearly shown in Figs. 12 to 16, the cradle 48 may be moved by the traversing stud 118 so that it is in alinement with either barrel desired. Due to its special form of connection the trigger and trigger slide are not moved but remain as shown in Fig. 15.

i The operation cycle of the gun may be said to start with the parts substantially as jacent the barrel to be loaded. the upper portion of the cradle having been moved over so that the bolt is in registration withwithdrawn by the extractor 103 and is that barrel. The movement of the actuator is transmitted to the lock by the lug 126 on the actuator coacting with the recess 133 in the side stud on the lock to lift the lock and move it to the rear. This movement of the lock serves to cock the piece, due to the interaction between the cross bar of the lock and the depending rear portion of the firing pin. After the lock is lifted so that the lugs 65 are out of the oblique portion 67 of the groove, further rearward pressure on the actuator serves to carry the. bolt, lock, and firing pin to the rear together. As they move to the rear the dog 98 on the cartridge lift is cleared by the bolt and the spring 99 depresses the rear of the lift, the spoon carrying a cartridge up into the position shown in Fig. 9.

Upon now releasing the actuator the breech closure assembly will be carried forward by thethrust of the recoil spring, the bolt carrying the cartridge ahead of itinto the chamber. The next cartridge is prevented from getting under the spoon by the cartridge detent 109. The lower portion 71 of the bolt contacts with the dog 98 on the lift 96 and forces the spoon down as the bolt moves forward. The edge of the spoon contacts with the cam edge 112 of the cartridge detent as the spoon moves down and moves the detent out of engagement with the cartridge so that the latter slips back upon the spoon due to the thrust of the magazine spring. The spring in the hinge 101 of the spoon is made stronger than the spring 111 which thrusts the cartridge detent outward, in order to accomplish this result.

The s ring 99 holds the forward hooked end of t e sear 84 upward as the bolt closes and this hooked end engages the depending hook 83 upon the rear of the firing pin. As these hook members engage, the tail of the sear is swung up against the bolt, the spring 87 contacting therewith.

One barrel is now loaded and the gun is cocked. If desired the cradle may be swung to the other side and the other barrel loaded in the same manner. Either barrel may then be fired by swinging the cradle to bring the bolt in alinement with the desired barrel, and by then pulling the trigger.

The relative angles of the arms of the lock' in the oblique slots 73 in the bolt and of the lugs 65' on the lock in the oblique grooves 67 in the cradle is such as to lock the breech closed 'upon what is known as the Blish angle, as defined in the patent to Blish, 1,131,319, March 9, 1915. This angle is such that the breech is held closed until the chamber pressure 'isreduced to a safe working limit when the residual pressure serves to open the breech.

As the breech opens, the empty case is either of said barrels.

thrown out of the ejection opening by its contact with the ejector 104. Another cartridge is lifted by the spoon and the barrel is ireloaded, the action of the parts being the same as that which has been described for the manual initial loading. If, however,

the pressure on the trigger has not been released, this pressure will hold the sear 84 in such position that the tail 88 will contact with the teeth 72 as shown in Fig. 10, and

the bolt will be retained open as shown in that figure. Upon releasing the trigger pressure the spring 99 will force up the forward end of the sear thus moving the tail 88 downward out of contact with the teeth 72 and releasing the bolt, which will be carried forward by the recoil spring 80- as before.

The magazine may be loaded at any time, the cartridges being pressed up against the spoon 100 which turns upward upon its spring hinge 101, and then pressed forward into the magazine against its spring pressed follower. By loading both barrels and then fully loading the magazine, if the latter has the usual capacity of five shells, the gun will then contain seven shells.

The cradle shift lever is placed convenient to either hand and may be readily operatedwithout removing the gun from the shoulder so that a switch from one barrel to the other may be made without appreciable delay. Further, if both barrels have been originally loaded, since the barrel fired is always automatically immediately reloaded and the piece cocked, no further manual loading will become necessary unless the magazine is permitted to become empty and not filled prior to firing the last shot loaded.

No actuating members appear on the top of the gun and it presents the usual sighting surface as found on double barreled guns of usual types.

The fact that pressure on the trigger serves to hold the bolt in the open position is an important feature in that it permits the force of the dischar e of one barrel to be utilized to load the ot er .barrel. This is 115 accomplished by swinging the cradle into alinement with the other barrel before releasing the pressure on the trigger. The location of the cradle shift lever is such as to permit this to be done without removing 120 the gun fromthe shoulder and without appreciable loss of time between shots.

I claim:

1. A gun comprising a frame, a plurality ofbarrels fixedly associated with said frame, 125 and a breech closure mounted on saidframe I to move rearwardly and forwardly into and out of firing position and adjustable to be selectively placed in operative relation with iesaeco 2. A gun having two barrels, a breech closure pivoted adjacent said barrels and adapted to be selectively swung into operative re-' lation with either of said barrels.

3. A gun having two barrels, a breech clo-.

sure pivoted adjacent said barrels and adapted to be selectively swung into operative relation with either of said barrels, the breech closure being moved to open position by the discharge of the barrel, and means operatively associated with the breech adapted to reload thefired barrel.

4. A gun comprising a receiver, a plurality of barrels associated with said receiver, and a breech closure mounted on said receiver to move rearwardly and forwardly into andout of firing position and adjustable to be moved transversely into operative relation with either of said barrels.

5. A gun having two barrels, a single magazine mounted adjacent the barrels in fixed relation thereto, loadin means for transferrin cartridges from t e magazine to the barre s, the loading means having one position in which cartridges are automatically transferred to one barrel when the breech closure is actuated and another position in which cartridges are automatically transferred to the other barrel in like manner.

6. A gun having two barrels, a magazine, and loading means pivoted adjacent the magazine and adapted to be. operatively associated with either barrel.

7 A gun having two barrels, a magazine substantially equidista'ntly spaced from the two barrels, loading means pivoted about the magazine and adapted to be swung into operative association with either barrel.

8. A gun having two barrels, a breech housing,a cradle in said housing, and a bolt in said cradle, the cradle being so connected to said housing as to permit its movement to bring the bolt into alinement with either of said barrels.

9. A gun having two barrels, a breech housing, a cradle in said housing, and a bolt in said cradle, the cradle being pivoted in the housing to permit it to be swung to bring the bolt into alinement with either of said barrels.

10. A gun having two barrels, a magazine, a breech housing, a cradle in said housing, loading means in said cradle, the cradle being so associated with said barrels and said magazine as to be adapted to be moved to bring the loading means in operative relation with either barrel,

11. A gun having two barrels, a magazine,

a breech housing, a cradle in the housing, a

bolt and loading means in the housing, the cradle being so associated with the housing as to permit its movement to bring the bolt into alinementwith either of said barrels.

12. A gun having two barrels, a magazine,

a breech housing, a cradle in the housing, a bolt and loading means in the housing, the

cradle being so associated with the housing as to permit its movement to bring the bolt into alinement with either of said barrels and to permit the loading means to remain associated with the magazine in either case.

13. A gun having two barrels, a magazine, a breech housing, a cradle in the housing, a bolt and loading means in the housing, the cradle bein pivoted in substantial alinement with t e magazine in such manner as to permit its movement to bring the bolt into alinement with eitherof said barrels and to permit the loading means to remain associated with themagazine in either case.

14. A un having two barrels, a magazine, a breech ousing, a cradle in the housing, a bolt and loading means in the housing, the cradle having a forward pivot surrounding the magazine opening and a rear pivot concentric therewith so as to permit movement of the cradle to bring the bolt into alinement with either of said barrels and to permit the loading means to remain associated with the magazine in either case.

. 15. A gun having two barrels, a breech housing, a cradle in said housing, and means extending through the housing whereby the cradle may be moved into alinement with either barrel.

16. A gun having two barrels a breech housing, a cradle pivoted in said housing, and a stud extending through a slot in the housing whereby the cradle may be swung into alinement with either barrel.

17. A gun having two barrels, a breech housing, a cradle pivoted in said housing, and a stud extending through a slot in the housing whereby the cradle may be swung intoalinement with either barrel, and means associated with said stud adapted to retain it yieldably at either end of its travel.

18. A gun having a breech housing, a cradle in said housing, a bolt carried by said cradle and means normally adapted to lock the bolt to the cradle.

19. A gun having a breech housing, a cradle in said housing, a bolt carried by said cradle and means normally adapted to lock the bolt to the cradle, the lock being adapted to be moved to unlocked position by explosive pressure on the breech face.

20. A gun having a breech housing, a cradle in said housing, a bolt carried by said cradle and means normally adapted to lock the bolt to the cradle, the lock being adapted to be moved to unlocked position by explosive pressure on the breech face, the relation of the contacting surfaces of the lock and the bolt and the lock and the cradle being such that the bolt is maintained in locked position until the explosive pressure has been reduced to a safe working factor.

21. A gun having a breech housing, a

cradle in said housing, a bolt adapted to reciprocate in the cradle and means normally adapted to lock the bolt to the cradle.

22. A gun having a breech housin a cradle in said housing, a bolt adapte to reciprocate in the cradle and means normally adapted to lock the bolt to the cradle, the lock. being adapted to be moved to'unlocked osition by explosive pressure on the breech .ace.

23. A gun having a breech housing, a

cradle in said housing, a,bolt adapted to reciprocate in the cradle, a firing member associated with the bolt, and means normally adapted to lock the bolt to the cradle, the locking means having a portion associated with the firing member and adapted .to move that member to cocked position during the unlocking movement of the locking means.

247. A gun, having a breech housing, a cradle in said housing, a bolt adapted to reciprocate in the cradle and means normally adapted to lock the bolt to the cradle, the locking means having lateral portions parts of which cooperate with the bolt and other parts of which cooperate with the cradle.

25. A gun having a breech housin a cradle in said housing, a bolt adapted to reciprocate in the cradle, a firing member associated with the bolt, and means normally adapted to lock the bolt to the cradle, the locking means having lateral portions parts of which cooperate with the bolt and other parts of Which cooperate with the cradle, and having a central portion adapted to cooperate with the firing member.

26. A gun having a breech housing, a cradle in said housing, a bolt adapted to reciprocate in the'cradle, a firing member associated with the bolt, and means normally adapted to lock the bolt to the cradle, the locking means having lateral portions parts of which cooperate with the bolt and other parts of which cooperate with the cradle, and having a central portion adapted to cooperate with the firing member, to move that member to the cocked position during the unlocking movement of the locking means.

27 A gun having a breech housing, a cradle in said housing, a bolt adapted to reciprocate in the cradle and means normally adapted to lock the bolt to the cradle, and manually operable means adapted to move the locking means to unlocked position.

.28. A gun having a breech housing, a cradle in said housing, a bolt adapted to be reciprocated in the cradle by discharge pressures in the gun, means adapted to lock the bolt in closed position, said locking means normally being operated by the discharge pressures and manually operable means adapted to move the locking means to unlocked osition.

normally being operated by the discharge pressures and manually operable means carried by the housing and adapted to move the lockin means to unlocked position.

30. gun having a breech housing, a cradle in said housing, a bolt adapted to be reciprocated in the cradle by discharge pressures in the gun, means adapted to lock the bolt in closed position, said locking means normally being operated by the discharge pressures and manually operable means adapted to move the locking means to unlocked position, the manually operable means remaining stationary during the nor mal operation of the lock.

' 31. A gun having a barrel, a reclprocatlng bolt, a loading lift pivoted below said bolt, an upward extension on the lift forward of the pivot adapted to contact with the bolt in the closed position, a springattached to the lift in the rear of the ivot, the spring bearing against a non-reciprocating part of the gun and adapted to swing the forward end of the lift upward when the contacting portion of the bolt passes to the rear of the upward extension on the lift, and a cartridge lifting spoon hinged to the forward end of the lift by a spring hinge adapted to normally maintain the lifting spoon in prolongation of the lift.

32. A gun having abarrel, a sear, a reciprocating bolt, a loading lift pivoted below said bolt, an upward extension on the lift forward of the pivot adapted to contact with the bolt in the closed position, and a spring attached to the lift in the rear of the pivot, the spring bearing against the sear and adapted to swing the forward end of the.

lift upward when the contacting portion of the bolt passes to the rear of the upward extension on the 'lift.

33. In a gun, a scar and loading means and a single spring actuating both said scar and loading means.

34:. In a gun, a sear and a loading means having a spring attached thereto, the free end of the spring bearing against the sear. I

35. In a gun,-a sear and loading means and a spring urging the rear of the loading means downward and urging the forwar 'portion of the sear upward.

36. A gun having a barrel, a breech housing, a cradle in saidhousing, a scar in said cradle, and a trigger carried b the housing and operatively associated wit the sear.

A gun having two barrels, a breech housing, a cradle pivoted insaid housing,

a sear carried by the cradle and a trigger operatively associated with the sear in such manner as to operate the sear regardless of the position of thecradle.

38. A gun havin two barrels, a breech housing, a cradle pivoted for lateral movement in said housing, a scar carried by the cradle and a trigger operatively associated with the sear in such manner as to operate the sear regardless of the position of the cradle, the trigger being restrained from lateral movement.

39. A gun having two barrels, a breech housing, a cradle pivoted in said housing, a sear carried by the cradle, a connecting link depending therefrom, a trigger operatively associated With said link to' thereby move the sear. 40. A gun having twobarrels, a breech housing, a cradle pivoted in said housing, a scar carried b the cradle, a connecting link depending t erefrom, a trigger carried by the housing and operatively connected to a slide, the slide having a portion projecting into the cradle to coact with the connecting link.

41. A gun having two barrels, a breech housing, a cradle pivoted for lateral movement in said housing, a sear transversely pivoted in the cradle, a. connecting link pivoted longitudinally to the scar, and a trigger carried by the housing and operatively connected to a slide, the slide having a portion projecting into the cradle to coact with the connecting link.

42. A gun having two barrels, a breechhousing, a cradle pivoted for lateral movement in said housing, a. sear transversely pivoted in the cradle, a connecting link pivoted longitudinally to the sear, and a trigger carried by the housing and operatively connected to a slide, the slide having a portion jecting portion of the slide maintaining operative relation with the connecting link regardless of the position of the cradle.

43. A gun having two barrels, a breech housing, an ejection opening adjacent each barrel, a breech closure adapted to be associated with either barrel and to close the adjacent ejection opening, and means adapted to close the other said opening.

44. A gun having two barrels, a breech housing, an ejection opening adjacent each barrel, a breech closure adapted to be laterally moved to be associated with either barrel and to close the adjacent ejection opening, and meansoperated by the lateral movement of the breech closure and adapted to close the other said opening.

45. A gun having two barrels, a breech housing, a cradle pivoted for lateral movement therein and adapted to be moved into alinement with either barrel, ejection openings in the housing adjacent each barrel, and means operated by the movement of the cradle and adapted ,to cover the ejection opening adjacent the barrel other than that with which the cradle is in alinement.

46. A gun havin two barrels, a breech housing, a cradle pivoted for lateral movement therein and adapted to be moved into alinement with either barrel, ejection openings in the housing adjacent each barrel, and a paddle pivoted to the'housing and a stud carried by the cradle and coacting with the paddle to move it to cover the ejection opening adjacent the barrel other than that with which the cradle is in alinement.

Signed by me at Boston, Massachusetts, this twenty-ninth da of April 1920.

JOHN TALIAFE RO THOMPSON. 

